Abstract:
Forests are playing an important role in mitigating climate change naturally by taking carbon out of the atmosphere, thereby reducing the impact of co2 emissions. It also contributes to climate change mitigation by preserving and expanding carbon stocks in the forest (including above ground and below ground biomass, dead wood, litter and soil). The carbon pools in the forest ecosystem are affected by altitude; slope and land use types. This study was conducted to investigate the floristic composition and carbon stock potential of woody species of Boda natural forest along with altitudinal gradients by evaluating above, below ground biomass, litter and soil carbon. A systematic sampling was used to collect data from the 57 sample plots in which 12 transect lines each having 5 main plots were used. To estimate the above and below ground Biomass non-destructive allometric equation was used where the organic Carbon in the in the soil and litter biomass where carried out in the laboratory. With the result of the study revealed that 54 woody species belonging to 35 families and 45 genera was found in Boda forest among which Fabaceae and Myrsinaceae were the highest families in terms of species. The value of the Shannon diversity index in the study site was 2.52 which imply that the value of the diversity index was medium diversity index. Also abnormal population structures with interrupt of regeneration found due to free grazing, illegal cutting of species, agricultural expansion and over consumption of species for charcoals. The regeneration status of Boda natural forest consists of seedling 20%, sapling 43% and mature 37% density/ha of individuals, respectively. So this result implies that the regeneration status of the study site was fair regeneration status. The total mean biomass and carbon stock of Boda was 300.35 and 156.74t/ha. The carbon stock pools of the study site show a variation among plots and small biomass in other plots due to socio-economic impact. Finally, the result of the study showed that woody plant species of the selected study was positive role in reduction of greenhouse gases and in contributing to climate change mitigation
